Adjustable height ironing table



Sept. 4, 1951 E. A. KRUEGER ADJUSTABLE HEIGHT IRONING TABLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 28, 1948 Sept. 4, 1951 E. A. KRUEGER ADJUSTABLE HEIGHT IRONING TABLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 72 Filed Sept. 28, 1948 54 as 2,0 495?. as 1a 5a Patented Sept. 4, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ADJUSTABLE HEIGHT I-RONING TABLE Ernest A. Ki'ue'ger; Milwaukee, Wis.

Application September 28, 1948, Serial No; 51,599

7 Claims. 1

The invention relates to ironing tables or the like which afford adjustment of the height of the ironing surface independent of the adjustment of the stand which supports the table from the floor. The invention alsov affords a novel collapsible leg structure for, supporting the table from the floor.

An object of the invention is to provide novel and suitable means for raising the ironing platform to various distances from the floor.

Another object is to provide for adjustment of the height of the ironing surface independent of the adjustment of the supporting legs.

Another object is to provide a novel work supporting surface for an ironing board.

Another object is to provide a novel foldable ironing table of great stability and rigidity for its weight.

Another object is to provide an ironing table which can be folded into a small space.

Another object is to provide an ironing table with novel means to spread the supporting legs apart and brace them in the operative position of the table.

Another object is to provide an ironing table which is economical in the use of material and labor required for its manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description and the appended claims.

The accompanying drawings are. illustrative of an embodiment of the invention. In the drawmgs,

Fig. 1 is a side view of an ironing table embodying the invention, the dotted lines showing. the table in a partially collapsed condition.

Figs. 2 and 3 are end views as seen from the left and right respectively of Fig. 1,

Fig. 4 is an enlarged section along the line 44 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the locking mechanism for the supporting legs, while Fig. 6 is a bottom view in the direction of the arrows 6-6 in Fig. 5.

Referring to the drawings, the ironing table consists of a collapsible supporting. frame Ill which supports an ironing board II, the latter being adjustable in height relative to the frame to afford adjustment of the distance of the ironing surface from the floor.

The frame If] comprises a pair of angle iron side members l2, l2, which are joined at the rear end of the frame by a cross member H3. The frame is provided with a bifurcated front leg l6 comprising limbs l5, l5, each pivotally supported at their upper ends to angle iron members l2, l2, by rivets It and M respectively. The front leg is is also provided with a pair of rearwardly extending braces ll, ll, which have their lower ends pivoted on the respective limb of the front leg it, while their upper ends are joined by a.

cross rod [8, which is adapted to slide in slots l9, l9; arranged-in a pair of guide plates 20, 20C.

attached to the side members l2, l2 respectively. The frame I0 is also provided with a pair of rear legs 2l, 2l, each having a forwardly extending brace 22, 22, respectively. The braces 22, 22' have their upper ends pivoted on the respective side members l2, 12' by pivots 23, 23', while their lower ends are pivoted on the respective legs 2l,.

2!. Ihe upper endsof the rear legs 2l, 2l' are pivoted on a shaft 24 to whichv in turn are anchored one end of links 25, 25, respectively (see Figs. 4 and 6).

The second end of the links 25, 25" are hinged to one of the ends of a second pair of links 26,.

26 respectively, which in turn have their respective other ends hinged to the frame members l2, [2. The links 25, 26, and 25, 26, thus form two identical toggles and when in the position shown in full lines in Figs. 4 and 6 securev the rear legs in the open position. As shown in,

Figs. 5 and 6, the shaft 2! has welded to its middle section a bell crank 21, one arm 28 of which normally projects rearwardly beyond the cross bar 13, while the other end is provided with a hole through which passes a rod 29, which is pivoted to a cross bar 38, the latter being in turn pivotally supported on brackets secured to the side members I2, l2. A compression spring Si is interposed between the bell crank 2'1 and the crossbar 30 so as to tend to rotate the bell crank clockwise and thereby lock the links 25, 25' and 26, 26 in the positions shown in full lines in Figs. 4, 5 and 6. If the toggle is broken by manually shaft 24 and the cross bar 30 can move to the position shown in dotted lines, while the braces 22, 22 pivot about the pivots 23, 23', respectively, so that the rear legs may be revolved counterclockwise to fold under the main frame.

The rear legs are also provided with means to spread their lower ends transversely to the board when in the open position and to draw the ends together upon folding, so that the legs lie within the perimeter of the main frame when folded up. For this purpose a pair of crossed spreading bars 32, 32, have their lower ends pivoted to the respective rear legs 2!, 2|, while their upper ends are pivotally secured to the cross bar 30 which is rotatable. It will be apparent from the drawing that when the rear legs are folded as described, the change in the position of the shaft 24, with respect to the rod 30 causes the spreading bars 32, 32 to draw the lower ends of the le s 2|, 2| respectively together.

The cross rod I8 is held in the position shown in full lines by two tension cross bars 33, 33', pro vided at their rear end with eyes 34, 34, which engage the rod 24, while their front ends are 3 welded to the cross rod I8. Hence when the rear end toggles are broken and the rear legs are folded up, the rods 33, 33', move to the right and push the cross rod I8 to the position shown in dotted lines (Fig. 4) thereby rotating the leg. I5 counterclockwise through the thrust exerted thereon by the braces I7, I1. Thus the legs may be folded to a position substantially in line with the main frame.

If the table is to be set up it is only necessary to lift it and let the legs by gravity assume their operating position after which they are locked by closing the toggle for the rear legs by clockwise rotation of the arm 23 of hell crank 21.

The ironing board II has attached to its underside two laterally spaced transverse metal strips 40, II. The two ends of each strip are bent at right angle to afford dependent lugs to which bearing pins 42, 42 and i3, 43', respectively, are fastened. The frame members I2, I2 are provided with corresponding bearing pins 44, 44 and 45, 45', respectively. The respective pins are connected by bars 46, 46 and 41, 41, respectively, forming with the board I I and the main frame a parallellogram which permit up and down movement of the board. The respective bars are stiffened by cross members 48. Pivoted to each of the pins 43, 43 is one end of a brace member 49, 49' respectively. The lower ends of said brace members are pivoted to a cross bar 50, which is provided with dependent pins 5| adapted to be inserted into holes 52 in the frame members I2, I2. Thus by inserting the pins into different holes the board II may be adjusted to different heights relative to the frame. The table II may be locked to the main frame in its lowermost or closed position by a latch or lock 53 any suitable type, said latch engaging cross member I3 of the frame to lock the table I I in closed position.

The detail construction of the table may be modified in many ways obvious to those skilled in the art without departing from the present invention as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A foldable stand for supporting an ironing table or the like, comprising, two spaced and rigidly connected longitudinal frame members provid ing a frame, a bifurcated front leg pivotally connected to said frame near one end thereof, a brace for said front leg and having one of its ends pivoted to said front leg and its other end arranged for lengthwise sliding engagement with said frame members, a pair of transversely spaced rear legs for the other end of said frame, an over center toggle mechanism interposed-between the upper ends of said rear legs and said frame, said toggle mechanism including a member on which the upper ends of said rear legs are pivoted and maintained in definite spaced relationship, a link having one end fixed to said member, a second link having one end pivoted to the free end of said first link and its other end pivoted to said frame member, a lever on said toggle member, and a spring element arranged for pressure contact with said lever to throw said toggle mechanism into locked position when said rear legs are in fully opened position, a brace for each of said rear legs, having one end pivotally connected to the corresponding leg and the other end to said frame, said toggle mechanism and said last named braces being arranged to jointly move the upper ends of said rear legs backward and lock them in their operative position, and said lever on said toggle mechanism bearranged for sliding ing manually operable to unlock said toggle mechanism to permit folding of said rear legs and their braces in parallel to said frame, and a tension member interposed between said rear legs and said front brace, said tension member being operative to effect the simultaneous movement of both front and rear legs into and out of operative position.

2. A foldable stand for supporting an ironing table .or the like, comprising, two spaced and rigidly connected longitudinal frame members providing a frame, a bifurcated front leg pivotally connected to said frame near one end thereof, a brace for each branch of said front leg, said braces having one of their respective ends pivoted to an intermediate point of the corresponding branch of said front leg and their respective other ends arranged for lengthwise sliding engagement with said frame members, a pair of transversely spaced rear legs for the other end of said frame, an over-center toggle mechanism interposed between the upper ends of said rear legs and said frame, said toggle mechanism including a member on which the upper ends of said rear legs are pivoted and maintained in definite spaced relationship, a link having one end fixed to said members, a second link having one end pivoted to the free end of said first link and its other end pivoted to said frame member, a lever on said toggle member, and a spring element arranged for pressure contact with said lever to throw said toggle mechanism into locked position when said rear legs are in fully opened position; a brace for each of said rear legs; having one end pivotally connected to the corresponding leg and the other end to said frame, said toggle mechanism and said last named braces being arranged to 'jointly move the upper ends of said rear legs backward and lock them in their operative position, and said lever on said toggle mechanism being manually operable to unlock said toggle mechanism to permit folding of said rear legs and their braces in parallel to said frame, and a tension member interposed between said rear legs and said front braces to effect the simultaneous movement of both front and rear legs into and out of operative position.

3. A foldable ironing table or the like, comprising, an elongated frame, a bifurcated front leg pivoted to said frame near the front end thereof, a brace for each branch of said front leg, said braces having one of their respective ends pivoted to an intermediate point of the corresponding branch and their respective other ends engagement with and lengthwise of said frame, a pair of transversely spaced rear leg-s, an over-center toggle mechanism interposed between the upper end, of said rear legs and said frame said toggle mechanism including a member on which the upper ends of said rear legs are pivoted, and maintained in definite spaced relationship, a link having one end fixed to said member, a second link having one end pivoted to the free end of said first link and its other end pivoted to said frame member, a lever on said toggle member, and a sprin element arranged for pressure contact with said lever to throw said toggle mechanism into locked position when said rear legs are in fully opened position, and a tension bar interposed between said upper end of said rear legs and the upper end of said front brace-s for moving said front braces and said front leg into their operative position when said toggle is moved to its locking osition, a rear brace for each of said rear legs having one end pivotally connected to the corresponding leg and the other endto said frame to afford stability to the respective rear leg in the locking position of said toggle and to permit folding of said front leg, said rear legs and said rear braces towards said frame when said toggle is unlocked by manual operation of said lever on said toggle mechanism.

4. A foldable stand for supporting an ironing table or the like, comprising, two spaced and rigidly connected longitudinal frame members providing a frame, a bifurcated front leg pivotally connected to said frame near one end thereof, a brace for each branch of said front leg, said braces having one of their respective ends pivoted to an intermediate point of the corresponding branch and their respective other ends arranged for lengthwise sliding engagement with said frame members, a pair of transversely spaced rear legs for the other end of said frame, an

over-center toggle mechanism interposed between the two upper ends of said rear legs and said frame, a brace for each of said rear legs, having one end pivotally connected to the corresponding leg and the other end to said frame, said toggle mechanism including a member on which the upper ends of said rear legs are pivoted and maintained in definite spaced relationship, a link having one end fixed to said member, a second link having one end pivoted to the free end of said first link and its other end pivoted to said frame member, a lever on said toggle member, and a spring element arranged for pressure contact with said lever to throw said toggle mechanism into locked position when said rear legs are in fully opened position, and said last named braces being arranged to jointly move the upper ends of said rear legs backward and lock them in their operative position upon manipulation of said toggle to its locking position under the action of said spring and to permit folding of said rear legs and their braces towards said frame when said toggle is unlocked by manual manipulation of said lever, a tension member interposed between each of said rear legs and one of said front braces to move said front leg and said front braces into operative position upon manipulation of said toggle to its locking position under the action of said spring, and a pair of crossed spreading bars having their respective ends pivoted to said frame and to said rear legs and arranged to spread said rear legs transversely to said frame in their operative position and to withdraw them within the perimeter of said frame in their folded positions.

5. An ironing table comprising, in combination with a platform affording an ironing surface, of a frame, a pair of struts connecting said frame and said platform to form therewith an adjustable parallelogram, means to adjust said parallelogram for varying the distance between said platform and said frame, a bifurcated front leg pivotally connected to said frame near th front end thereof, a brace for each branch of said front leg, said braces having one of their respective ends pivoted to an intermediate point of the corresponding branch and their respective other ends arranged for lengthwise sliding engagement with said frame, a pair of transversely spaced rear legs for the other end of said frame, an overcenter toggle mechanism interposed between the 7 upper ends of said rear legs and said frame, said toggle mechanism including a member on which the upper ends of said rear legs are pivoted and maintained in definite spaced relationship, a link having one end fixed to said member, a second link having one end pivoted to the free end of said first link and its other end pivoted to said frame member, a lever on said toggle member, and a spring element arranged for pressure contact with said lever to throw said toggle mechanism into locked position when said rear legs are in fully opened position, a brace for each of said rear legs, having one end pivotally connected to the corresponding leg and the other end to said frame, said toggle mechanism and said last named braces being arranged to jointly move the upper ends of said rear legs backward and lock them in their operative position upon manipulation of said toggle to its locking position under the action of said spring element and said lever on said toggle mechanism being manually operable to unlock said toggle mechanism to permit folding of said rear legs and their braces towards said frame, and a tension member interposed between said rear legs and said front braces said tension member being operative to effect the simultaneous movement of both front and rear legs into and out of operative position.

6. In an ironing table or the like, the combination with a supporting stand, of a platform affording an ironing surface, a pair of struts connected to said stand and said platform to form therewith an adjustable parallelogram, and means to adjust said parallelogram for varying the distance between said platform and said stand said means comprising a pair of spaced brace members each pivotally mounted at one end on one of said struts and having their other ends connected together by means of a spacer bar arranged for selective positioning in contact with said supporting stand to provide rigid support for said platform in any of several positions of adjustment.

7. In an ironing table or the like, the combination with a supporting stand having a horizontal supporting element, of a platform affording a horizontal elongated working surface, a plurality of struts spaced longitudinally from each other and connected to said supporting element and to said platform to form therewith an adjustable parallelogram for varying the vertical height of said platform relative to said stand, and means to adjust said parallelogram and fix it in its adjusted position to afford a varying height of said working surface relative to said supporting element said means comprising a pair of laterally spaced brace members, each having one end pivoted to one of said struts and having their free ends connected by a member arranged for selective positioning along the top surface of said horizontal supporting element whereby said platform elevation may be altered in accordance with the positioning of said member on said supporting element.

ERNEST A. KRUEGER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

